Potential suitors wait and watch

Introducing The Age's new fantasy AFL game, Ultimate Footy. A draft-based competition, you can customise your league to suit your needs. Ultimate Footy gives you more say as to how your league is run. Fantasy footy has evolved. Head to www.ultimatefooty.com.au to get started.

CLUBS reacted with surprise, muted interest, bemusement and a quiet pessimism to news of the decision by Lance Franklin to shelve talks on a new contract.

There is intense excitement - although no one wants to say so publicly - but also a pessimism that Franklin will ultimately do as Travis Cloke did and re-sign with his club.

Fremantle is one obvious destination, given it has twice in recent years sought key forwards (Mitch Clark and Cloke), its captain and key forward Matthew Pavlich is entering his 14th and possibly last season and Franklin is a West Australian.

But the last time the club was asked about potential interest in Franklin - before last year's draft - football manager Chris Bond delivered an adamant ''no''.

Franklin's move might force a re-think but, as yet, the Dockers' position has not altered.

Advertisement

Greater Western Sydney, ordinarily a club prepared to publicly express interest in any uncontracted player, on Sunday put out a statement notable only for the fact it did not want to make public any possible interest.

''At this stage of the season the Giants are not going to comment on potential recruiting targets,'' club football manager Graeme Allan said.

''Our pre-season is progressing well and our priority is to retain and develop our current list.

You will now receive updates fromRealfooty Newsletter

Realfooty Newsletter

''Last year we re-signed 13 of our young players until the end of 2015, including: Jeremy Cameron, Toby Greene, Adam Treloar, Dylan Shiel, Stephen Coniglio, Tomas Bugg and Devon Smith, all of whom were nominated for the NAB AFL Rising Star Award.

''A number of other players, including our leadership group of Callan Ward, Phil Davis and Tom Scully, have also made long-term commitments to the Giants.

''This will continue to be a major priority for us as a club and we will not be making any further comment.''

Given their extra salary cap room, the Giants are theoretically able to consider Franklin.